UJ Press Journals
Not a member yet
2155 research outputs found
Sort by
Absenteeism and Labour Precarity: A Quantitative Analysis of a South African Cleaning Services Company
Full text linkThis study investigates absenteeism among cleaners employed by a South African cleaning services company. Despite its economic importance and the challenges faced by its workforce, the cleaning services industry remains understudied, particularly in terms of absenteeism and its impacts on cleaners’ livelihoods. To fill this void, a quantitative approach was employed, utilising a dataset of 5109 cleaners to analyse the prevalence and patterns of absenteeism. Results show that Black African females were disproportionately affected, and regions such as Cape Town and the North-West Province displayed the highest prevalence of absenteeism among cleaners. This study contributes to the growing body of research on precarious work and informs policy discussions and interventions on improving labour practices in low-wage sectors
Comparative Analysis of Campus Life Experiences Between Mainstream Daytime Students and their Evening-Attendance Counterparts
Full text linkThis research conducts a comparative examination between daytime and evening attendance students of the campus life experiences at a selected university of technology in South Africa. In a context marked by massification and the growing demand for equitable access to higher education, evening programmes have emerged as a strategic solution to extend institutional capacity and cater to non-traditional learners. These programs also create opportunities for out-of-classroom learning (OCL), enabling students, particularly those engaged in employment or caregiving, to pursue academic advancement while balancing work and life responsibilities. Using a mixed-methods approach involving surveys, focus groups, and observational studies, the study investigates disparities in academic performance, social involvement, student well-being, and engagement with informal learning opportunities. The findings reveal that while evening students report higher satisfaction with campus life, they face persistent barriers related to commuting, campus safety, and limited access to co-curricular programmes, internships, and professional networking opportunities. In contrast, daytime students demonstrate a broader but more uneven spectrum of engagement and well-being, often shaped by rigid academic scheduling and competing responsibilities. This investigation highlights the transformative potential of evening programmes in expanding access, supporting student mobility, and promoting inclusive forms of student success. It also reinforces the role of OCL as a critical enabler of flexibility and resilience, especially for students navigating multiple responsibilities. The study calls on institutions to develop flexible timetables, enhanced support services, and targeted interventions that address the unique needs of students learning beyond traditional classroom hours, particularly in preparing for future employability in a post-pandemic educational landscape
From the Editor\u27s Desk. Volume 1
No full textAbstract
The Inaugural Issue of The Journal of ExoTechnology and Education (jeXed)
Every garden begins with a seed - small, seemingly fragile, yet containing within it the potential for transformation. jeXed is such a seed; sown in the fertile ground of scholarly curiosity and watered by an international interdisciplinary community eager to understand how emerging technologies shape education. As Editor‑in‑Chief, it is with equal parts pride and anticipation that I present the first flowering of our collective labour: this inaugural issue.
From the outset, our ambition with jeXed has been ..
Youth Engagement with Social Media Skits for Health Awareness in Nigeria: A Descriptive Study
Full text linkWith the rise of social media in the digital age, new and more effective channels for delivering public health awareness messages have emerged. This study examines the exposure of the youth to health-related skits on social media and the appeals used to communicate messages that influence viewership and social behaviour. Media Richness Theory serves as the theoretical framework. The study reveals that social media skits effectively communicate health messages, with 72% of respondents reporting the adoption of positive health behaviours and 69.1% indicating that skits helped them discontinue negative health habits. The findings also highlight that fear-based appeals in skits are particularly effective in deterring harmful behaviours (74%), while humour appeals make respondents more receptive to health messages (63.7%). Despite the uncertainty regarding the credibility of information in skits, a vast majority (91.4%) believe that professional health organisations should utilise skits as a medium for dissemination of public health campaigns. The study concludes that social media skits are promising tool for promoting health awareness. It recommends that health bodies and public health communication authorities should leverage the power of humour to enhance public health message retention and impact. Additionally, skit content creator through collaboration with health experts should ensure the generation of credible skits
Interrogating Gender Identity and Stereotypes in South African Higher Education: A Qualitative Study of Student Narratives at Howard College, University of KwaZulu-Natal
Full text linkSouth African universities, while shaped by a progressive constitutional ethos, remain deeply influenced by the historical and socio-cultural legacy of gender inequality. This study explores how students at Howard College, University of KwaZulu-Natal, conceptualise gender roles, identities, and stereotypes within a context of entrenched norms and evolving ideals. Using interpretive qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with students across various faculties to explore their understandings, and experiences of masculinities, femininities, and gender-related "toxic" traits in university spaces. The study involved 26 participants, selected through purposive and snowball sampling, comprising 20 undergraduate and six postgraduate students aged 18 to 26. Findings suggest that students view gender identities as socially constructed but still constrained by traditional binary, and prescriptive expectations. Socialising agents such as family, media, religion, and education were identified as key to shaping these norms. While the participants acknowledged the concept of gender fluidity, they also highlighted the persistence of rigid binaries, reflecting a tension between recognising fluidity and living within entrenched categories. Genderedinequalities were often framed in interpersonal terms, such as "toxic" behaviours, which risk overshadowing the deeper structural legacies of patriarchy and apartheid that continue to influence gendered power dynamics in South Africa. This study contributes to understanding how young people in higher education both reproduce and resist dominant gender discourses while navigating the psychological dissonance created by contradictory messages of equality and hierarchy. It emphasises the need for gender sensitisation and media literacy in higher education, alongside institutional action to address gendered power dynamics. Such interventions can challenge restrictive norms, address cultural and structural inequalities, and foster more inclusive debates on masculinity and femininity in South Africa
A Decolonial Reading of EFF as (Mis)Guided Black Rage
No full textExamining two sets of protests by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) between 2018 and 2021 that reflect on the persistent problem of racism in post-apartheid South Africa, this article teases out the operations of Black rage within the EFF and on the Black body more broadly. It applies affect as theory and method to understand the party’s rage on the manifestation of racism as simultaneously an expression of what I call ‘misguided black rage’ and as an expression of self-love. I argue that since its formation in 2013, the EFF, amongst others, has been looking at racism and white-owned South Africa media as the objects of its rage. It must be said, however, that the EFF’s rage has been about more than racism and white media ownership as exemplified by the party’s powerful rage directedagainst former President Jacob Zuma through its campaign “Bring Back the Money”. Consequently, this article theorises the EFF through Black rage, the lens of affect. In her song, Black Rage, Lauren Hill says Black Rage can manifest itself in many forms. Listening to her song is a poignant reminder of the politics of Black rage. This article shows that Black rage in the EFF can be retrogressive and advances violence towards journalists and sexism and misogyny specifically towards women journalists. On the other hand, rage in the party can be perceived as progressive in challenging discriminatory practices such as ways in which black women hair is depicted
Confronting Toxic Masculinity in South African Society: A Review of Jeffery Rakabe’s Led by Shepherds: An Initiate’s Memoir (Jacana Media 2025)
No full textAs South Africans, we have all wondered what lessons are imparted during initiation; how do they help boys become men? While it is common lore to protect the challenges that young boys face, the protection means that it also gets clouded in silence, making it difficult to interrogate its effectiveness
“We All Love Cinderella But...”How Young Nigerian Parents Engage with Portrayals of Women in Disney Animated Films
No full textThis study investigated how young Nigerian parents engage with Disney’s portrayals of women in animated films. The study employed a qualitative research approach. Drawing on the Audience Reception Theory and the Parental Mediation Theory, the research examined how these parents interpret and mediate Disney’s gender representations in their parenting practices. Data were collected from 20 university-educated parents, aged 25 to 35 years, across various professions in two diverse urban locations, using a guided snowballing technique. The participants were those who had recent exposure to female portrayals from Disney productions. Findings showed diverse media consumption patterns and a high level of exposure to Disney content. Disney animated films were accessed via a wide variety of platforms such as Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Channel. Findings also revealed varied interpretations of Disney’s portrayals, including perpetuation of gender stereotypes and depictions of empowerment. In addition, parents employed restrictive, active and co-viewing strategies to mediate these representations. They expressed concerns about gender socialisation and the reinforcement of cultural values. In the young parents’ navigation of negative portrayals through active mediation and restrictive mediation, they questioned and sieved Disney content for their children and also engaged in open communication where they discussed Disney content with their children. They also used the films to teach cultural values. Stay-at-home mothers used these films more than the other groups of parents. This study highlights the relationship between media, culture and parenting in shaping gender attitudes
Fostering Financial Independence Among Women in India – A Case Study of LXME
Full text linkThis article explores the relationship between financial literacy and financial independence. Through the case study method, it studies the impact and role of a fintech startup firm LXME in educating women about financial planning and helping them empower themselves in their personal and professional lives. LXME manages a Facebook group named ‘Being LXME’ which is a group of women that promotes women’s economic empowerment through financial literacy. The group works to simplify the financial terms and financial planning and investment so that women can understand the terminology easily and plan their finances better. LXME (beta version) was launched in 2018-19 by the Anand Rathi group. While there is no dearth of fintech apps in recent times, LXME has a unique proposition. Armed with the Facebook community, LXME guides women to make the right choices when it comes to decision-making for investment and personal finances. This article aims to shed light on how LXME has charted its path toward being a successful venture and how it plans to connect with their consumers to empower them to take charge of their finances by educating them